Joshua Da Silva is embracing the opportunity to shine in the game's shortest format and is eager to see fellow emerging talents across the Caribbean do the same, as the inaugural West Indies T20 Breakout League gets underway at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad and Tobago this Friday.
The 26-year-old West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman, who will captain the Trinidad and Tobago Legions, believes the new tournament offers a much-needed platform for players like himself who are hungry to make their mark in T20 cricket.
"I’ve played 22 (T20) games and just haven’t gotten as much opportunity. This tournament should provide more opportunity for me and a lot of other players as well. I think it’s a great initiative and hopefully the start of something that can happen every year," Da Silva shared via a recent Cricket West Indies (CWI) release.
Da Silva, who has played 33 Tests since debuting for the West Indies in 2020, has been in a rich vein of form in 2025, scoring 583 runs at an average of 64.77 during the West Indies Four-Day Championship. Now, he’s ready to turn heads in the white-ball format.
Amir Jangoo.
"You never know who’s watching. So each opportunity you get to walk out into the middle, it’s something worth its weight in gold. Do the best that you can. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. And most importantly, have fun, because at the end of the day, it’s a new tournament," he said.
The TT Legions will begin their campaign in the tournament’s marquee fixture on opening day, facing Barbados Pelicans at 7:00p.m. in the second game of a double-header. Earlier in the day, Guyana Rainforest Rangers will take on Windward Islands Infernos at 2:00 p.m. Jamaica Titans and Leeward Islands Thunder, are the other participating teams.
Players eligible to participate must be under 30 at the start of the tourney and must have played fewer than 40 List A T20 matches and fewer than ten T20 internationals. Each team is closely affiliated with a Caribbean Premier League (CPL) franchise.
Guided by head coach Rayad Emrit, the Legions boast a strong mix of youth and experience, and Da Silva knows the importance of continuing Trinidad and Tobago’s proud tradition in T20 cricket.
Johann Layne.
"We pride ourselves on the legacy that we have in T20 cricket, that’s for sure. For us, It’s an honour to represent the country at any level. This is a tournament where a lot of eyes are going to be on us and performance is going to be key. We can use it to land bigger contracts or get your first one. Just showcase your talent," Da Silva stated.
The Legions' lineup is loaded with potential. Red Force standouts Amir Jangoo and Jyd Goolie headline the batting, with Jangoo having recently debuted for the West Indies in both T20 and Test cricket. All-rounders Joshua James, Navin Bidaisee, and CPL 2024 winner Mikkel Govia provide balance, while Cephas Cooper and Kamil Pooran round out a powerful top order.
In the pace department, overseas recruits Johann Layne (Barbados) and McKenny Clarke (St Lucia) will bring heat and variation to the attack.
TT Legions squad: Navin Bidaisee, McKenny Clarke, Cephas Cooper, Joshua Da Silva, Jyd Goolie, Mikkel Govia, Joshua James, Damion Joachim, Amir Jangoo, Johann Layne, Shaaron Lewis, Kamil Pooran, Abdul-Raheem Toppin, Crystian Thurton